PONY League World Series packs more punch

Share with others:

Fans of The PONY League World Series can experience the action of youth baseball in a new way this year.

At PONY League media day Wednesday, chairman Bob Gregg said Lew Hays Field has a new cable installation that, through funding from Comcast, the City of Washington and the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency Grant Program, will expand fans’ experience.

“This will enable us to do a number of things,” Gregg said. “One, it will make available public Wi-Fi, so that we can interact in real-time with Instagram, Twitter, with blogs, with all of those things people enjoy today.”

Gregg described the overhaul as the organization’s way of going “all access.”

“That’s not my world,” Gregg said. “But, it’s the world we live in.”

Fans around the world will have access to stories, photos, live tweets, radio broadcasts, live game scores, statistics and box scores, all through the series’ website. This new cable installation will enhance the audio broadcast of games, and the organization is in talks about streaming every game of the World Series over the Web.

The championship games will be broadcast live on KDKA and WPCW, CBS Pittsburgh’s The CW. For more than 60 years, radio coverage of the games has been on WJPA-AM (1450). Mark Uriah, longtime “voice of PONY League World Series,” and former Pirates announcer Lanny Frattare will call the action.

In addition to the new multimedia services, PONY will be featuring more entertainment and events at Lew Hays PONY Field during games.

Events will include a Home Run Derby and Fastest Runner Contest, a Military Appreciation and Mascot night, live entertainment from such acts as The Clark’s front man Scott Blasey, an appearance from World Series champion and former Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen and a Champion’s League Game.

The Champion’s League game is played by special-need-players, giving them a chance to interact with the other PONY League members and play on the PONY League field.

“Tears will run down your cheeks, I promise you. You’ll never be the same after you witness the Champion’s League game,” Gregg said.

PONY League is hopeful that the new interactive media and entertainment events will attract more fans to enjoy the tournament.

The 2014 PONY League Worlds Series will be Aug. 8-13 at Lew Hays Field in Washington. For tickets and other information visit, plws.org.

•NOTE — The PONY World Series International Field is set with Prague, Czech Republic (European Zone), Los Mochis, Sinaloa (Mexican), Levittown, Puerto Rico (Caribbean) and Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific). Qualifying for the five other spots in the tournament will be July 30-Aug. 4.

Join the conversation:

To report inappropriate comments, abuse and/or repeat offenders, please send an email to
socialmedia@post-gazette.com and include a link to the article and a copy of the comment. Your report will be reviewed in a timely manner.
Thank you.